Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Jackie McClaskey commented on the announcement.

"This designation will allow Kansas farmers and ranchers to have access to programs that can assist them as they weather this challenging time," McClaskey said. "It also highlights the critical importance of water to Kansans. Without water, agriculture, our state’s largest industry, cannot thrive."

All counties designated natural disaster areas on March 26, 2014, make qualified farm operators in the designated areas eligible for low interest emergency (EM) loans from USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), provided eligibility requirements are met. Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for loans to help cover part of their actual losses.

Additional programs available to assist farmers and ranchers include the Emergency Conservation Program, Federal Crop Insurance, and the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program. Interested farmers may contact their local USDA Service Centers for further information on eligibility requirements and application procedures.

This designation comes at a time when Kansas officials are working to help develop a water vision. "Gov. Brownback issued a charge last October to develop a comprehensive, 50-year vision for water," McClaskey said. "The long-term viability of our water supply, including the usable life of the Ogallala Aquifer and our reservoirs, is at stake. We must be proactive in our approach in order to ensure the ongoing economic viability of Kansas."